“Only the living can make the world better. Live and make it better.”
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Ghost Boys knocked me flat.
Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer“Only the living can make the world better. Live and make it better.”
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Ghost Boys knocked me flat.
Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer while playing with a toy gun in the park. As a ghost, he watches the devastation his murder brings upon his friends, family, and community. All the while, the trial of the police officer that killed him is underway, and the only person that can see Jerome is Sarah, the police officer's white daughter.
Jerome also meets another ghost: Emmett Till, who acts as a guide to Jerome and helps him process his death.
This is the best middle grade book I've ever read. Rhodes immediately sucked me in with her skillful writing, and I quickly grew attached to Jerome. a young Black boy who loved his parents and grandmother, was a good older brother to his sister Kim, and was bullied in school. He had dreams of becoming a professional basketball player, and found a friend in the new kid at school, Carlos. Jerome's death was devastating, brutal, and all too familiar. He was murdered by a grown man claiming he felt endangered by a little boy. I felt the loss of Jerome's life so keenly, and the grief felt by Carlos and Jerome's family was a punch to the gut. Rhodes didn't shy away from the hard truths of Jerome's story, but there's also hope to be had in this book, too.
The emotional, as well as historical, journey in Ghost Boys was wonderful. The reader learns about Emmett Till's fate, and the ways in which racism led to his own murder. The social, political, and emotional layers of this book blend beautifully with the story of how a boy who never got to grow up comes to understand American Blackness.
There are hundreds, thousands of ghost boys just like Emmett and Jerome. We cannot forget their names, or their stories. We cannot be silent.
“If he couldn't cope with you, then he couldn't have coped with anything. Nobody could want more than who you are.”
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Winter's Orbit made me feel a jo“If he couldn't cope with you, then he couldn't have coped with anything. Nobody could want more than who you are.”
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Winter's Orbit made me feel a joy that I've yet to properly articulate, and I don't think I ever will. It is a science fiction novel brimming with world-building, political intrigue, and mystery, but it's also an achingly beautiful romance between two wonderfully dynamic characters. It is a story about acceptance, healing, and love.
It very nearly broke me.
The Iskat Empire has long dominated the system through treaties and political alliances, though several planets, including Thea, have begun to chafe under Iskat's rule. When Imperial Prince Taam dies, his Thean widower, Jainan, is rushed into an arranged marriage with Taam's cousin, the disreputable Kiem, in a bid to keep the rising hostilities between the two worlds under control. However, when it's discovered that Taam's death might not have been an accident, Kiem and Jainan must find out the truth before a conspiracy threatens to topple the empire into war.
Jainan and Kiem are vastly different from one another. While Jainan is measured, calm, and intellectual, Kiem is boisterous, scandal-prone, and chronically social. Their marriage initially seems disastrous, but as the novel progresses, both slowly come to realize that they're not so different from one another. And as the narrative blooms into an intricately woven, beautifully crafted mystery, so do the characters bloom and entirely leap off the page. I loved Jainan and Kiem so much.
While Kiem's journey was heart-warming and undeniably lovely, it was Jainan's character arc that hit me the hardest. Jainan was initially very timid around Kiem when they were first married, and Maxwell gradually reveals the truth behind Jainan's guarded nature: he was in an abusive relationship with his former partner, Taam. The abuse Jainan faced at the hands of Taam, and the trauma resulting from it, bled into every aspect of Jainan's life: like red ink spilled across paper, the stain of it grew until nothing good was left. And even though Taam died, Jainan still could not free himself from the trauma of it. Invasive thoughts told him that he was worthless, that he deserved it, and these words were all spoken with Taam's voice. As a result, Jainan's early chapters were wounding and difficult to read.
Jainan goes through a grueling, healing journey in this book that reflected my own difficulties. I've been in an abusive relationship, and while I suffered emotional and verbal abuse from a mentor instead of a romantic partner, the scars from it took years to heal. Jainan's invasive thoughts, his fears that echoed past mistreatment, and his visceral memories that were triggered by the most mundane things, all resonated with me so deeply. This was the first book I read after escaping my abusive relationship with my academic advisor where I could see my experiences wholly reflected. I can't even begin to articulate how meaningful that was for me.
And despite the hardship within this book, Winter's Orbit is also a gripping page-turner. The mystery had me reading voraciously, and I absolutely loved the romance. Jainan and Kiem being a wonderful team, Kiem loving him unconditionally, and the two of them finding acceptance and safety in each other had me clutching the book to my chest in agony. MY GOD.
“Jainan,” he said into his fingers. He pulled his hands down until his dark agonized eyes met Jainan’s. “You’re beautiful.”
*weeps*
What more can I say? Easily, this is a new favorite. I will always have a special place in my heart for this book....more
“But there are some things, no matter if they’re true, you can’t live with them. You have to refuse them. You turn your eyes away from whatever’s s4.5
“But there are some things, no matter if they’re true, you can’t live with them. You have to refuse them. You turn your eyes away from whatever’s squatting right there in front of you and not only pretend it isn’t there now, but that you never saw it in the first place. You do so because your soul is a frail thing that can’t stand the blast-furnace heat of revelation, and truth be damned. What else can a body do?”
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The Fisherman is a tale dripping with existential dread, cosmic terror, and intricate folklore. It is not for the faint of heart, and I loved it.
Abe is a widowed, middle-aged man that took up fishing after the death of his beloved wife. Fishing saved him from drowning in an ocean of grief, and when Abe befriends a fellow co-worker named Dan, he discovers that Dan has also suffered a terrible loss. Abe and Dan bond over their shared love of fishing, and plan on fishing up in the Catskills at a place called Dutchman's Creek. However, locals say the waterway is haunted by a mysterious figure called Der Fisher: the Fisherman. Soon, the two men are drawn into a tale of secrets, death, and horror, and it will ultimately bring Abe and Dan face-to-face with all that they’ve lost.
The structure of this book is undeniably compelling, though it may put some readers off. In the first chunk of The Fisherman, Abe introduces us to his story: how he met his wife – whom he later lost to cancer – and how fishing ultimately saved him from crushing despair. Though it might be too slow for some readers, I was instantly sucked into Abe’s story, thanks to the conversational writing style. This is a very “oral” book, if that makes any sense. The Fisherman is a book you’d read aloud around a campfire. It’s a tale that takes its time, but once it has its hooks in you, it refuses to let you go.
What elevated this book above an enjoyable horror story, for me, was John Langan’s acute understanding of grief. Both men in The Fisherman suffer from immense loss, and find solace in each other’s company, and Langan effectively parallels Abe and Dan’s separate journeys. I especially appreciated Langan’s portrayal of the ugly, soul-sucking effects of grief: how some people never truly heal, and how some losses are too great. I love the idea that there's an existential horror to the nature of relationships. That opening ourselves to our deepest fears, deepest emotions, brings with it a slow annihilation of sanity. There's a monologue delivered by Dan in this book that touches on these ideas, and it still haunts me.
“Maybe whoever, or whatever, is running the show isn’t so nice. Maybe he’s evil, or mad, or bored, disinterested. Maybe we’ve got everything completely wrong, everything, and if we could look through the mask, what we’d see would destroy us.”
The second part of The Fisherman contains stories within stories, and it drenches the reader in heaping waves of cosmic menace and existential terror. From here on, this book chilled me to the bone. I want to keep this review as vague as possible, but I will say this: I hadn’t been this frightened by a book in a long while – not since Stephen King’s Pet Sematary, at least. There’s something deeply human and hauntingly tragic about this story; it is equal parts nightmarish and intimate. Beautiful, and horrific.
Just...maybe don't read this with the lights off.
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“All loss is not created equal, you see. Loss is—it’s like a ladder you don’t know you’re standing at the top of and that reaches down, way down past the loss of your job, your possessions, your home; past the loss of your parents, your spouse, your children; down to the loss of your very life.”...more
BRUTAL. This was like taking a knife to the gut, but in book form. I'm honestly still haunted by it.BRUTAL. This was like taking a knife to the gut, but in book form. I'm honestly still haunted by it....more
I'm speechless and shattered in equal measure. I've tried to write a review for Kindred so many times, but all I can articulate is this: Octavia ButleI'm speechless and shattered in equal measure. I've tried to write a review for Kindred so many times, but all I can articulate is this: Octavia Butler is a master. I adored every bit of this....more
“Reason and law don’t mean much when white folk want their way.”
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P. Djèlí Clark has cemented himself as a new favorite author of mine, because wow. “Reason and law don’t mean much when white folk want their way.”
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P. Djèlí Clark has cemented himself as a new favorite author of mine, because wow. Ring Shout was glorious.
Clark's newest novella gives a supernatural twist to the Klan's reign of terror in the Jim Crow south. D. W. Griffith's film, The Birth of a Nation, is a work of dark sorcery that draws on the hatred of white America, and the Klan is rising in power and prominence. Maryse Boudreaux has a magic sword and a deep need for vengeance: when she's not bootlegging Nana Jean's magic spirits through prohibition Georgia, she's hunting down Klu Kluxes with her two friends, Chef and Sadie. Chef is a Harlem Hellfighter and explosives expert, and Sadie is a sharpshooter with a fiery personality. These three women hunt the demons that have sunk their claws into the Klan, but something bigger is on the rise. Something that could bring about the end of the world.
If the premise alone hasn't sold you, I don't know what will. Truly, this book is a masterpiece.
Not only is Ring Shout a beautiful blend of genres (fantasy, historical fiction, and horror); this story is a gorgeous tapestry of epic writing, gory, horrific imagery, vibrant characters, and deep, visceral anger.
The magic Maryse calls upon with her sword is born from the souls of African kings, paying their repentance for selling their own people to slavers. These African kings sing Shouts of sorrow, rage, and Old African Gods. I adored Maryse's magic, and was heartbroken over her intense grief. There's so much pain in Ring Shout, but it's eclipsed by power, hope, and love. I really loved the fantastical and folkloric elements of the world building, too, and how Maryse's story mirrored that of an epic hero's journey. The magic, stories within stories, and undeniably bone-chilling body horror were all pure perfection.
“There were two brothers, Truth and Lie. One day they get to playing, throwing cutlasses up into the air. Them cutlasses come down and fast as can be-swish!-chop each of their faces clean off! Truth bed down, searching for his face. But with no eyes, he can't see. Lie, he sneaky. He snatch up Truth's face and run off! Zip! Now Lie go around wearing Truth's face, fooling everybody he meet.”
Ring Shout isn't just a historical fantasy novella with horror elements and monster-hunting heroines. It speaks to the pain and joy of the Black experience, and sings its song of loss, rage, strength, and love in a fierce Shout. I loved this book so much, and I can't recommend it enough. Truly a standout book of 2021!
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“What I have is beautiful music inspired by struggle and fierce love. What he got ain’t nothing but hateful noise. Not a hint of soul to it.”...more
“Son, one of the biggest lies ever told is that Black men don't feel emotions. Guess it's easier to not see us as human when you think we're heartless“Son, one of the biggest lies ever told is that Black men don't feel emotions. Guess it's easier to not see us as human when you think we're heartless. Fact of the matter is, we feel things. Hurt, pain, and sadness, all of it. We got a right to show them feelings as much as anybody else.”
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I loved Concrete Rose so goddamn much.
A prequel to The Hate U Give, this book follows Maverick Carter, Starr's dad from THUG, as a young man living in Garden Heights. Concrete Rose is a beautiful exploration of youth, fatherhood, loss, and family. Maverick has to take on more responsibility than any seventeen-year-old boy should, and Angie Thomas balances light-hearted, lovely moments with serious, relevant topics that truly resonate: the cycle of violence in communities, gang violence, incarceration, and America's demonization of Black men.
Thomas is a master, and if you haven't picked up any of her books, you're doing yourself a disservice. The audiobook was especially great.
Another wonderful book from one of my favorite authors.
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“It's kinda like how we have to do with ourselves. Get rid of the things that don't do us any good. If it won't help the rose grow, you've gotta let it go.”...more
Persuasion, though possessing many of the elements readers love in an Austen novel, is much quiete“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.”
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Persuasion, though possessing many of the elements readers love in an Austen novel, is much quieter than its predecessors. This is a story of lost love, loneliness, and reunion. It is at times sad, lovely, and achingly beautiful.
I absolutely loved it.
Anne Elliot is 27 years old and unmarried. Considered a spinster by her family, Anne is sure that she will never marry. Eight years before the beginning of this book, Anne was betrothed to Frederick Wentworth, a naval officer whom she loved. However, when her dear family friend, Lady Russell, persuades her to break off the engagement due to their difference in rank, Anne does just that. Heartbroken and regretful, Anne does not think she will see Wentworth ever again.
Eight years later, Captain Wentworth has returned to England, with an elevated rank and considerable wealth. The Elliots are on the brink of financial ruin, and Anne must weather the feelings that never left her. Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited once more?
Anne is a protagonist I instantly latched onto. Unlike Emma Woodhouse or Elizabeth Bennett, Anne is a more introspective, measured heroine. She is quiet, and often overlooked by her father and older sister, Elizabeth. Sir Elliot, Anne's father, was the most vain, obnoxious character I've had the displeasure of reading about, and Elizabeth is just as horrible. The lack of appreciation Anne receives from her family made me sympathize with her, but this does not shake Anne's vibrant spirit. She is devoted to her loved ones, undeniably intelligent, and brimming with impassioned feeling. I absolutely adored Anne.
Austen introduces a myriad of interesting characters in Persuasion. The Musgroves are Anne's sister Mary's in-laws, and they were absolutely delightful. It made me so emotional when Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove claimed Anne was a dear part of their family. While Mary was annoying, I liked her husband, and I also enjoyed Admiral Croft and his wife, Mrs. Croft. Austen knows how to write an eclectic cast of characters, for sure.
I was expecting to be invested in Anne and Wentworth's eventual reunion, but I wasn't prepared for the deep, aching emotion I'd feel, thanks to Anne's inner-monologue. I suffered with Anne when she thought Captain Wentworth was lost to her for good. I was angry on her behalf. And I became a blubbering, swooning mess at even the smallest of gestures between the two. One of the things I adore about Austen's stories is the subtlety of the romances. The measured glances, merest touches, and passionate love-confessions are trademarks of her books, and all are present in Persuasion.It was glorious.
Wentworth writes Anne a letter towards the end of this book, and it was the most romantic thing I've ever read. Some of the lines made my heart stutter, and only Austen can renew my belief in true love so completely.
“I have loved none but you.”
*swoons*
As always, Austen's witty writing, engaging storytelling, and winding subplots had me flipping the pages eagerly. I was so taken by Persuasion, and if you're a fan of Jane Austen, please don't overlook this gorgeous book. It's absolutely beautiful, and a worthy companion to Austen's other, more popular works.
What a lovely, lovely book.
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“She had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the natural sequel of an unnatural beginning.”...more
“How much easier it would be if everyone knew their role: the hero, the sidekick, the villain. Our books would be neater and our souls less frayed. Bu“How much easier it would be if everyone knew their role: the hero, the sidekick, the villain. Our books would be neater and our souls less frayed. But whether you have blood or ink, no one's story is that simple.”
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The Library of the Unwritten is a treasure-trove of electric storytelling, dynamic characters, and beautiful prose. It's a book about books, and the narrative sings to creative souls and humanity's infinite imagination. It's no surprise that I adored this.
This first book in the Hell's Library trilogy follows Claire, the librarian of the Unwritten Wing of the Library of Hell. The Unwritten Wing houses all the Unwritten books of the world - books that were left unfinished by their authors, either because they died or inspiration fled them. Naturally, these books are restless, and they often wake up and take the form of their fictional characters. When one such book flees the Library and tries to find its author, it's up to Claire, her assistant and former muse Brevity, and a sweet demon named Leto to capture the book and bring it back to the stacks.
However, Claire, Brevity, and Leto soon find out that they might have just inserted themselves in a larger conflict between Heaven and Hell.
Doesn't that sound amazing? Because trust me, it is.
If I could pitch this book in one sentence, I'd say The Library of the Unwritten is brilliant mashup of Good Omens and Margaret Rogerson's A Sorcery of Thorns. I was so thrilled, so thoroughly entertained, and so enchanted by the story at the heart of this book. I went on a grand adventure with Claire, Brevity, Leto, Hero (the book character that escaped his story), and Andras, a demon in charge of the Arcane Wing of the Library, and it was the most fun I'd had while reading in a long time. And this book isn't just about the dueling realms of Heaven and Hell - many more paradise and damnation realms exist and have their own libraries! Valhalla, the Greek Underworld, and Duat, are some, and they're all born from the imaginations of humanity. How cool is that?
There's so much to love about our prickly main character, Claire. She's cagey, severe, and a little mean, but she cares so much. Not just for the Library, but also for her friends. The heart of this story is Claire coming to terms with her past mistakes, traumas, and losses. Oftentimes, we hurt the people we love, and caring can hurt the worst of all. Seeing Claire open up to Brevity, develop a sweet friendship with Leto, and even connect with the snarky, self-absorbed Hero was so cathartic, and I loved following her character journey.
“You can care and still cause harm. Feeling, caring, for someone else is the worst kind of weapon, in my experience. It allows you to do things you never through you could do and things you never thought you would do. All for the love of someone else.”
Hero was hilarious, and his banter with not just Claire, but the whole cast of characters, was gold. I thoroughly enjoyed Claire and Hero's dynamic, and their initial hostility blossomed into a tentative and surprisingly delightful friendship. Each of the characters played off each other so well, and this little found family that developed over the course of the novel had my whole heart. Truly, I fell in love with the characters in this book.
AJ Hackwith understands the significance of stories. How they not only shape us, but the world we live in. Stories are literally alive in The Library of the Unwritten - books wake up, morph into fictional characters, and wreak havoc - but the magic, myths, and vivid fantasy realms also represent a deeper truth about fiction. Books inspire us. They're full of humanity's dreams and desires, heart aches and tragedies, hopes and fears. They speak to who we are, and god, isn't it wonderful that humans can create entire worlds, entire universes, and house them in the pages of a book? It's a miracle. And this book understands that so very well.
“We think stories are contained things, but they’re not. Ask the muses. Humans, stories, tragedies, and wishes—everything leaves ripples in the world. Nothing we do is not felt; that’s a comfort. Nothing we do is not felt; that’s a curse.”
I loved this book so much. If you are a lover of books, as I suspect you are if you're reading this review, do yourself a favor and pick up The Library of the Unwritten. There's found family, friendship, libraries, adventure, angels and demons, and stories within stories. To put it simply, this book is pure magic.
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“We seek to preserve the books, of course. But we forget the flip side of that duty: treasure what we have. Honor the stories that speak to you, that give you something you need to keep going. Cherish stories while they are here. There's a reason the unwritten live on something as fragile as paper.”...more
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